Japan: the very word excites the senses and our 2025 tour to this far away and exotic land will ensure that Kudus enjoy a range of Japanese experiences, cultural, natural and culinary. From the throbbing heart of Tokyo, the largest metropolitan area in the world, to the quiet slopes overlooking Mount Fuji, we will walk and wander through autumn colours and past shrines and temples dedicated to Buddhist and Shinto religions.
Sika deer will wander into our gaze and the largest Buddha in the world will justify its popularity with travellers from across the globe. We will sample bento boxes; sushi and sashimi with the occasional Western meal as a comparator. We will learn about the tea ceremony in a cloistered setting and taste Saké of the highest quality.
Wasabi will tickle the palate and our dive into Japanese society will showcase the politesse and serenity implicit in the national character. How we will envy the ban on mobile phones on trains and the imprimatur of “no loud conversation” in lifts.
For newcomers, the trip will provide more than superficial experiences of Japan; for returnees, the Kudu twist will perhaps entail new ways of enjoying the quiet joy that is Japan.
HIGHLIGHTS of our walking tour in Japan include:
7 half-day country walks - Uji, the Kiso River Valley, Nakasendo, Kamikochi, Mt. Fuji
Pond and hill, zen, tea and strolling gardens all cloaked in autumn colours
The mysteries of the Japanese tea ceremony
After a morning arrival at Osaka international airport, we have an hour’s transfer to Nara, Japan’s capital for most of the 8th century, where we stay for 2 nights. We walk through the Naramachi area of narrow streets lined with traditional single-story merchant houses to our first Japanese lunch, perhaps featuring the Nara speciality kakinoha-zushi, the salted mackerel sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves. We visit the Gango-ji Buddhist Temple, a place of worship with a history stretching back to the 8th century.
We spend the day exploring Nara on foot. As we walk through the Nara Park, it won’t be long before we meet sika deer. Considered divine messengers of the Shinto gods, they are protected and wander freely throughout the city. An avenue bordered by hundreds of stone lanterns brings us to the vermilion Torii gate announcing the near presence of the 8th century Shinto shrine known as Kasuga Taisha.
The scale of the Nandai-mon (the Great Southern Gate) and its two Guardian gods prepares us for the sight of Japan’s largest bronze statue, the Great Buddha seated on a lotus throne, in the Todai-ji Temple.
The small city of Uji lies between Nara and Kyoto and is known for its green tea and for the Byodo-in Temple, built originally as a country retreat for an aristocratic family. We arrive by road in the late morning and start our walking tour to discover the city. We spend the night in Japanese style rooms in a riverside hotel..
A short road transfer brings us to our 4 star hotel in central Kyoto, our base for 3 nights. The opulent Nijo Castle was built during the 17th century Tokugawa Shogunate and demonstrated the power of the newly established military government of feudal Japan. We admire the impressive reception rooms of the Ninomaru complex, decorated by exquisite paintings from the finest Kano School artists. The adjacent castle garden is a fine example of Japanese garden design and features cherry, plum and pine trees, a large pond and many carefully positioned stones, weighted with political and personal allusions. At our private tea ceremony, we taste matcha accompanied by traditional Japanese sweets and learn the principles guiding this centuries old ritual.
Today we concentrate on eastern Kyoto as we walk through the Pontocho Alley and Gion, the traditional Geisha area. Later, we proceed through the Higashiyama district, where the city gives way to the mountains. It is a treasure trove full of temples and shrines with their associated gardens. Kyoto’s gastronomic offerings are equally rich, ranging from sushi through yakitori and katsu curry to yakiniku, literally ‘grilled meat’.
We continue to explore Kyoto with walks in the Imperial Park, the vast public area surrounding the Imperial Palace, and the Kyoto Botanical Gardens. For those who wish to strike out independently, Kyoto offers almost an endless list of possibilities whether you prefer museums, gardens or temples.
Please enquire if you would like to visit Hiroshima on this day.
Using both the bullet and a local train, in 2 hours 15 mins we transfer to Kiso Fukushima, a post town on the historic Nakasendo trade route connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. We settle into our traditional 4 star hotel featuring an onsen, a hot spring bath. Perhaps time to dress in traditional yukatas for dinner. In the afternoon, our walk takes us to the wooded slopes of the Kisokoma mountain, at 2,956 m the highest peak of the Central Japan Alps.
We visit a farm dedicated to the preservation of the Kiso Horse, an endangered indigenous Japanese breed traditionally used in farming and mediaeval warfare. At this time of year, the predominant colours we expect to encounter are red on the maple and dogwood trees and yellow on conifers such as Japanese larch. Another regional speciality is buckwheat and lunch is bound to feature black soba noodles.
DAY 9
B, L, D included
Kiso Valley - Nakasendo
Further south in the Kiso river valley, we walk a section of the Nakasendo between two charming post towns, Magome-juku and Tsugome-juku. We pass carefully tended vegetable gardens, persimmon trees laden with fruit, self-service stalls with produce for sale and an historic teahouse offering complimentary tea to all walkers, before descending through the forest.
We walk over a 1,200 m pass on our way to Narai-juku, a well preserved Nakasendo post town lined with traditional merchant houses and workshops. An hour’s drive will take us to Matsumoto, our gateway to the Northern Japan Alps. The Matsumoto Castle was built in wood in the 16th century and is listed amongst Japan’s National Treasures. During our visit we learn how it narrowly escaped destruction by the 19th century Meiji government thanks to the efforts and fund-raising of local residents.
DAY 11
B, L, D included
Kamikochi
Today we head for the picturesque mountain resort of Kamikochi in the heart of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, set up to protect the Northern Japan Alps also known as the Hida Mountain range. On our circular riverside walk we enjoy rugged scenery in autumn colours, dominated by the highest peak of the range, the 3,190 m Mt. Hotaka.
DAY 12
B, L, D included
Azumino - Mt. Fuji
Our first stop today is a museum honouring the locally born sculptor, Rokuzan Ogiwara. He is recognised as a founder of modern, western-style bronze sculpture in Japan. In complete contrast, we continue to a wasabi farm. The pungent condiment served inter alia with sushi is made by grating the rhizome of a plant native to Japan. In Azumino, the clear cold water flowing from the mountains to the alluvial plain provides perfect growing conditions for this Asian relative of horseradish. In the afternoon, we have a 2.5 hrs’ drive to Fujikawaguchi, at the base of Mt. Fuji, Japan’s highest (3,776 m) and best recognised peak.
Our circular morning walk follows a trail through a forest growing on a bed of lava from a 9th century eruption documented in official history records. The area is also noted for several large caves formed in the flowing lava. A short climb to a viewpoint will reward us (weather dependent) with view of the regular stratovolcanic cone of Mt. Fuji. Though classified as an active volcano, there is low risk of an eruption. In the afternoon, a 2.5 hrs’ road transfer brings us to our 4 star hotel in central Tokyo.
The Imperial Palace and the surrounding gardens are a good starting point for our introductory tour of Japan’s capital.
A short walk through the Marunouchi District with many skyscrapers and smart shops takes us to Tokyo main railway station. Its construction, based on the design of Amsterdam station, was completed in 1914 and carefully restored in 2014 to mark its centenary.
Passing through the Jimbocho Bookseller’s District, one may be tempted to pick up a book on Oriental subjects or an ukiyo-e print as a souvenir.
If this is your first visit to Tokyo, it is worth considering extending your holiday by adding a few nights. Please enquire if you would like to do so.
A mid-morning transfer to Haneda airport concludes our holiday.
Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotels and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible.
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.
All rooms have private facilities
2 nights in Nara ∙ 1 night in Uji ∙ 3 nights in Kyoto ∙ 3 nights in Kiso ∙ 2 nights in Matsumoto ∙ 1 night in Fujikawaguchiko ∙ 2 nights in Tokyo
Visitors from the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Japan. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Japanese Embassy.
Normally, there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Japan.
You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.
Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.
If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.
Size of party
This trip will run with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 guests.
